Hot Off the Press

Auto Imports into China Skyrocketing

Friday, October 13, 2006

China’s auto imports totaled 147,000 units through the first eight months of the year, worth a total of $4.84 billion U.S. dollars and representing a 72-percent increase year-on-year. Statistics from China’s General Administration of Customs show that the major sources of vehicle imports are the European Union, South Korea and the Untied States.

Rockford Toolcraft to Automate 27 ft. of Bolster Space

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

HMS Products Co., Troy, MI, will outfit automation equipment onto a pair of two-slide high-tonnage presses installed in the new stamping-plant addition of Rockford Toolcraft, Rockford, IL. Coming to the stamping plant in Spring 2007: a pair of HMS Series 900HD transfer systems and a between-press parts shuttle, as well as a coil-handling system from Feed Lease Corp., Rochester Hills, MI. The tandem transfer-press line will be able to feed ½-in.-thick material from 60-in.-side coils. The transfer automation will feed in both directions, in tandem or single-press configurations, and can operate in two-axis, three-axis or crossbar-transfer modes.